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Los Angeles to dedicate the city’s 72nd library branch

Silver Lake is finally getting a library. The Los Angeles neighborhood will be home to the city’s 72nd branch. The grand opening is this morning.

The grand opening marks the completion of the city’s ambitious campaign to improve its public library system. Through a voter approved-bond program, Los Angeles renovated or built 64 branches in the last two decades, at a time when other cities have questioned the viability of libraries in the digital age.

"Now more than ever people want a library, and they want a place to go to exchange ideas, meet their neighbors, participate in a program for their kids," said Peter Persick with the L.A. Public Library.

"In fact, the library has experienced the greatest number of people visiting it in its 140 year history. We’re more popular than ever before."

The new branch is on Glendale Boulevard near Silverlake Boulevard. It’s one of the most eco-friendly and automated of all the libraries, Persic said.